Mechanism for recording data on film



Dec. 15, 1931, R. s. HOPKINS 1,336,714

I MECHANISM FOR RECORDING DATA ON FILM Filed March-6, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 12% 8. flo rkins.

gwuentoc Dec. 15, 1931. R. s. HOPKINS MECHANISM FOR RECORDING DATA ON FILM Filed March 6, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q? 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII 1 Q I 5 7 gwm-ntoz 5 6 Roy 3.11'qpkins.

aka camp.

A Dec. 15, 1931.

R. S HOPKINS MECHANISM FOR RECORDING DATA ON FILM Filed March 6, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 gwvm'll'ot 120 S. Hopkins. MW

Patented Dec. 15,, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROY S. HOPKINS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGINOR TO EASTMAN KODAK COM- PANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MEGHAN ISM FOR REOORDIN G DATA ON FILE Application filed March 6, 1930. Serial No. 433,665.

This invention relates to photography and more particularly to machines for recording printing data on film. One object of my invention is to provide a machine which will notch or punch visible marks in film which may indicate the data necessary for printing such as the type of printing paper and the time required to print with standard conditions. Another object is to provide a machine which can be quickly and easily operated by a relatively inexperienced operator. Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which can be readily kept in adjustment and one which will minimize the labor of preparing the prints for the printing operation, and other objects will appear from the following specification, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

Coming now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view'of a machine constructed in accordance with and embodyinga preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram for themachine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a film which is marked and is ready for exposure.

Fig. 4 is a part section with parts of the machine showing in elevation, of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the sectional punches.

Fig. 6 is a front plan view partially in section of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail of the punch section operating mechanism, and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail showing aportion of the clutch operating mechanism.

Broadly speaking, I propose to record printing data on film by placing a negative on a platen passing light through the least dense portion of a negative to a sensitive cell and noting a reading, passing light through the most dense portion of the negative and noting a second reading, and using these two readings to indicate on the film the required type of paper and the necessary time of exposure for printing operations on a printing machine having standardized lighting conditions.

My invention is directed particularly to the means for indicating on the film the data found mechanically.

In Fig. 1, I have shown a machine which may consist of a body portion 1 having a platen 2 for receiving a negative to be measured and having a raised back portion 3 which carries a movable dial 4 having a density recording member 5 from which read ings can be taken and which furnishes the data necessary to record the proper data on the film.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 6, the platen 2 preferably consists of a sheet of clear glass 6 mounted above a sheet of ground glass 7 in the latter of which an aperture 8 is cut to admit a small beam of light which may be passed upwardly from a lamp 9 by means of a lens 10. I prefer to also provide a masking plate 11 having an opening 12 therein through which the light beam passes. This mask plate can be either an opaque plate or may be translucent so that it will merely reduce the amount of light passing upwardly except that portion of the light which is thrown upwardly by means of a lens 10. The lamp 9 and the lens 10 may be supported by a bracket 13.

Just above the aperture 8 there is a cone 14 spaced from the glass panel 2 at 115 a sufficient distance to permit a negative to slide freely therebetween. The cone 14: leads up to an enclosed housing 15 in which there is mounted a photographic light sensitive cell L of any desired type, though I have found the Williams 6a photo-cell entirely satisfactory. A negative N to be measured is slid on the glass platen 2 toward the cone 14 and the general illumination from the lamp 9 passing .upwardly through glass 7 or the diffusing glasses 11 and 7, as the case may be, gives a general illumination which enables an operator to easily select the most transparent portion of the negative and the least transparent portion of the negative. In other words, the operator selects that portion of the negative which has the least silver reduced as one extreme and that portion of the negative which has the densest silver deposit as the other extreme. two readings not only give the contrast of the negative, but from the contrast readings the time and the type paper to be used can be satisfactorily obtained. After taking a reading on a negative, the operator may notice that the density recording device 5 gives a reading of say 3 and 10. These figures are taken from the dial of the density recording device 5 and thescale may be purely arbitrary. From this reading the data to be placed on the film is obtained. There is a movable dial 4 having a series of finger notches 16 (here shown as 12), although any desired numbermay be employed, each of the finger notches 16 bearing a graduation 17 corresponding to the graduations on the scale of the density recording device. After having obtained a reading as above described, an operator may place his finger in the notch 16 opposite the scale No. 3 and turn the dial 4 until it comes to a stop on the left-hand side facing Fig. 6 against stop 18. The dial 4 is "then released and the operator places his finger in the notch 16 opposite the graduation 10 moving the dial 4 until his finger strikes the stop 19 on the right-hand side of the machine as shown in Fig. 6. These two movements are all that are required to mark the film.

Before turning the dial, the negative N is slid up against a stop 20 beneath the outwardly extending flange 21. When the negative is so positioned, two series of notches 22 and 23, as. illustrated in Fig. 3, are cut or punched into the edge of the negative. With the negative N2 as shown in Fig. 3, the first group of stops 22 indicate the time required for printing as being N 0. Gand the second group of notches 23 indicate the paper required as No. 3 aper. The No. 6 time is an' arbitrary unit 0 time and a printing machine is preferably provided with a No. 6 time which the operator can punch without counting off in definite units of time.

The mechanism for recording the data on the negative will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 7, the dial plate 4 is mounted upon a shaft 24 to which is pinned a bevel gear 25, the shaft 24 being mounted in suitable bearings 26 and 27. Dial plate 4 really forms an operating mechanism for the machine, although very little force is necessary to turn it. Beneath the dial 4 is mounteda rod 28'on which a These weight 29 is slidably mounted, this weight being connected to each side of a drum 30 by means of chains 31 attached to the weight through screws 32. As can readily be seen, this arrangement always tends to return the dial to a central position as shown in Fig. 6 after each movement by an operator, since the weight is raised on the post 28 each time the dial 4 is turned either to the right or to the left. The gear 25 meshes with a pair of similar gears 33 and 34, gear 33 being pinned to shaft and gear 34 being-adapted to turn upon shaft 35. Shaft 35 extends through to the end of the frame 36 having a bearing at 37 and also abearing in bracket 38.

The recording punch consists of a series of punch sections. In the present embodiment of my invention, I have employed three sections 39, and 41, although the number of sections may be varied to suit the particular apparatus. Sections 39 and 40 being used together may be considered as one punch section and section 41 the other. The shaft 35 turns sections 39 and 40 with it, these two sections being attached by means of set screws 42 and 43 so as to always'turn with the shaft.

Section 41, however, does not turn with shaft 35 but may be attached to a sleeve shaft 44 which extends around the outside of shaft 35 and which may turn freely with respect to it. Encircling sleeve shaft 44 is a spring 45 anchored at 46 to the frame and at 47 to the punch section 41, this spring normally tending to turn the sleeve shaftin a clockwise direction.

There is ablock 48 on the sleeve shaft which is attached to the shaft by means of a set screw 49 and there is also a clutch element 50 mounted to slide on the shaft, this clutch element having the usual groove 51 in which the forked end 52 of a gear shifting lever 53 is mounted. The gear shifting lever, as shown in Fig. 8, consists of a forked member 52 on the end of lever 53 aflixed to turn with the shaft 54 when this shaft is operated through an upwardly extending arm 55 pivotally attached to a link 56 which in turn is pivotally attached to an arm 57 adapted to turn about the shaft 24. There is only a frictional contact between member 57 and the sleeve 58 which forms a part of the gear 25. There is likewise only frictional contact between the arm 59 and the face 60 of the drum 30. The arm 59 is connected to move with the arm 57 and there is a spring 61 tending to push the two arms against the surfaces above described so that there will always be a tendency to turn when the shaft 24 is turning the drum 30 and the gear 25.

The turning movement of punch section 41 is limited by spring stop 62 which lies in the path of the flat portion 63 which forms a part of the punch section 41. When this member turns in a counter clockwise direcemma I tion it comes down against the spring stop and is normally retained in this position.

The operation of the punch parts thus far described is as follows: When the operator moves the operating mechanism, that is the dial 4, the shaft 24 rotates gears 25, 33 and 34. Since the first described rotation movement of member 4 may be to the left when facing the machine, gear 25 is moved to the left and shaft 35 is moved in a counter clockwise direction and with it punch sections 39 and 40 are turned so that the ridges 64 may, by contacting with the groove 65, form a punch and die member which will cut a series of notches in a film placed underthe guide 21. The number of notches cut in the film by these members will be determined entirely by the amount of rotative movement of member 4.

During this movement, punch member 41 will not be moved because the first part of the movement throws the clutch operating arm 56 to the left and disconnects the clutch engaging faces 66 and 67, so that while gear 34 is turned by gear 25, the sleeve shaft 44 is not turned. However, when the plate 4 is turned in an opposite direction either to return it to its normal position or by an operator moving the dial to its right hand extremity, the very first portion of the movement in a clockwise direction causes the clutch faces 66 and 67 to immediately engage so that the sleeve shaft will move and carry with it the punch member 41. This punch member will, of course, through the ridges 68 and the corresponding notches 69 punch in the edge of the-film a series of notches corresponding to its movement.

It should be noted, however, that .while the punch member 41 is not moved when the dial is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, nevertheless, the clutch faces 66 and 67 become engaged as soon as movement in a clockwise direction of dial 4 starts, so that the paper reading 23 will be the same for negatives of different density but of like contrast.

For instance, if the readings'used by an operator should be 4 and 8, the reading insofar as the contrast of the paper is concerned will be exactly the same as if the reading taken by'the operator had been 8 and 12. This is taken care ofby the clutch mechanism which causes the clutch faces 66 and.67 to engage and turn the punch section 41 only during the clockwise movement of dial 4.

In Fig. 2 a wiring diagram of the apparatus is shown. The line wires and 91 are connected to the lamp 9 through a rheostat 92, a switch spring pressed closed 93 and a main switch 94, there being also a transformer 95 in the line leading to lamp 9.

There is a supplementary circuit also closed by switch 94 and included in the wire 96 which leads to one end of a 6 volt battery 97 and a second wire 98 leading to the density recording device 5 from which a wire 99 leads to one terminal 100 of the photo cell L, the other terminal 101 being connected by a wire 102 to a potentiometer 103. From the potentiometer a Wire 104 leads to the single throw double pole switch 94.

I prefer to use for a density recording device a standard 500 microammeter.

As indicated in Fig. 2, an arrow 105 is provided on one side beyond the scale 106 and a second arrow 107 is provided on the opposite side. The reason for this is that it is necessary to occasionally check to see if the photosensitive cell L is in proper shape to give correct readings. After throwing on the switch 94, the switch 93 is pushed to break the circuit throughthe lamp 9. This will leave the circuit closed through the 6 volt battery and the arrow 108 on the microammeter should return to a position over the first arrow 105. By releasing the switch 93 to make the circuit, the lamp 9 should pass the beam sufiicient to move the arrow 108 into re istration with the arrow 107. This I can be regulated by adjusting the transformer 95 or the rheostat 92 or both. The position of the arrow 108 can also be controlled by a potentiometer 103. If these combined adjustments are insufficient to bring the arrow into the correct location on the microammeter, it is necessary to supply a fresh photo cell 15.

With the apparatus above described, an operator can readily measure film negatives N2 as shown in Fig. 3 or strip the film negative N1 as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1. The negatives need not be cut apart from the strip unless desired, so that the ordinary amateur type of roll film can be quickly and,

easily handled.

It is only necessary for an operator to get a reading from the densest portion of a negative and from the least dense portion of the negative and then to move the negative beneath the flange 21 against the stop 20 and to move the dial 4' in accordance with the reading first to the right and then to the left. This can be done much more rapidly than it can be described and it permits one person to rapidly judge and mark a large number of ne atives.

s will appear obvious, an entirely inexperienced person may then print the negatives in accordance with the printing data marked thereon. For instance, with the negative shown in Fig. 3, an operator may tell at a glance that the time unit is 6 and that the. printing paper type is 3. It is necessary, of

course, to have a printing machine correlated with the time machine and with the paper to be used for printing.

While there are a number of possible cmbodiments which can be constructed in. accordance with my invention, I have illustrateda preferred embodiment and desire to in; clude as within the scope of my invention all such embodiments as may come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what- I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial bearing graduations of suitable units associated therewith, a film marking device interconnected with said movable member to be actuated thereby, said film marking device including at least two relatively movable punches, and mechanism carrying the punches and movable with the movable member adapted to move one punch in advance of the other.

2. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial bearing graduations of suitable units associated therewith, a film marking device interconnected with said movable member to be actuated thereby, said film marking device including at least two relatively movable punches, and mechanism carrying the punches and movable with the movable member including a clutch for connecting and (llSCOllIlQCtll'lg one punch from the movable member arranged to connect one punch to move with the other in one direction and to disconnect one punch when the other punch moves in the other direction.

3. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial bearing graduations of suitable units associated therewith, a film marking device interconnected with said movable member to be actuated thereby, said film marking device including at least two relal'ivcly movable punches, and mechanism carrying the punches and movable with the movable member, one of said punches being permanently attached to said mechanism and a clutch between said mechanism and the other of said punches.

4. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial bearing graduations of suitable units associated therewith, a film marking device interconnected with said movable member to be actuated thereby, said film marking device including at least two relatively movable punches, and mechanism carrying the punches and movable with the movable member, one of said punches being permanently attached to said mechanism and a clutch between said mechanism and the other of said punches, and clutch operating means connected to said mechanism to release the movably mounted punch from the fixedly mounted punch when the latter moves in one direction.

5. A datarecording device including a movable member, adial associated therewith bearing graduations of suitable units, a film marking device including at least two relatively movable punches, means for differentially moving the punches including shafts and mechanism, one shaft being attached to one punch, and the other punch being attachable to its shaft, and means for automatically attaching and detaching said second named punch from its shaft.

6. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial associated therewith bearing graduations of suitable units, a film marking device including at least two relatively movable punches, means for differen tially moving the punches including shafts carrying said punches, one shaft fixedly carrying one punch, the other punch being movably mounted on the second shaft, a clutch adapted to connect and disconnect said movably mounted punch to its shaft and means for automatically actuating said clutch. I

7. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial associated therewith bearing graduations of suitable units, a film marking device including at least two relatively movable punches, means for differentially moving the punches including shafts, carrying said punches, one shaft fixedly carrying one punch, the other punch being movably mounted on the second shaft, a clutch adapted to connect and disconnect said movably mounted-punch to its shaft and means for automatically actuating said clutch through the movement of the first named shaft, whereby one punch may move independently of the other in one direction and with the other in the other direction.

8. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial bearing suitable graduations associated therewith, a film marking device including at least two punches, connections between the punches and the movable member fonmoving the former from the latter, and means including a plurality of finger notches for moving the movable member.

9. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial bearing suitable graduations associated therewith, a film marking device including at least two punches, connections between the punches and the movablemember for moving the former from the latter, said movable member having a normal position of rest and being capable of movement in two directions from said position of rest.

10. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial bearing suitable graduations associated therewith, a film marking device including at least two punches, connections between the punches and the movable member for moving the former from the latter, said movable member having a normal position of rest and being capable of movement in two directions from said position of rest and means for returning said movable member to its position of rest.

11. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial bearing suitable graduations associated therewith, a film marking device including at least two punches, connections between the punches and the movable member for moving the former from the latter, said movable member having a normal position of rest and being capable of movement in two directions from said position of rest, and means for returning said movable member to its position of rest including a weight connected to said movable member.

12. A data recording device including a movable member, a dial bearing suitable graduations associated therewith, a film marking device including at least two punches, connections between the punches and the movable member for moving the former from the latter, said movable member having a normal position of rest and being capale of movement in two directions from said position of rest, and means for returning said movable member to its position of rest including a weight connected to said movable member by means of two flexible members whereby one flexible member may support said weight when said flexible member is moved from its position of rest.

13. A data recording device'including a movable member, a dial bearing suitablegraduations associated therewith, a film marking device including at least two punches, connections between the punches and the movable member for moving the" former from the latter, said movable member having a normal position of rest and being capable of movement in two directions from said position of rest, and means for returning said movable member to its position of rest including a slideway, a weight slidable thereon, and flexible connections between said weight and said movable member tending to return said weightto its normal position of rest.

, 14. A data recording device including a movable member, a plurality of finger grips thereon, a film marking device including at least two punches, connections between the punches and the movable member for actuating said punches, stops located in a predetermined position with respect to said movable member and adapted to limit the movement thereof when said member is moved through said finger grips.

15. A data recording device including a movable member, a plurality of finger grips thereon, a film-marking device including at least two punches, connections between the punches and the movable member for actuating said punches, stops located in a predetermined position with respect to said movable member, said stops comprising abutments lying adjacent the plane of movement of the movable member and in the pathpf an operators finger engaging a finger grip andturning said movable member.

16. A data recording device including an actuating member, a negative marker comprising a pair of punches, operating mech anism connecting each punch and the actuating member including a clutch, through which both punch sections may be moved in one direction togetherand through which one punch section may be moved without moving the other punch section. V

17. A data recording device including an actuating member, a negative marker comprising a pair of punches, operating mechanism connecting each punch and the actuating member including a clutch, connections between the clutch and actuating member adapted to operate the clutch through movement of the actuating member for moving one punch section, said connection permitting botli punch sections to move together or separate y.

18. In a negative data recording machine, a punch having relatively movable sections, a movable actuating member for the punch, a pair of shafts connected to the operating mechanism and to the movable actuating member, a clutch on one shaft, a clutch operating means adapted to disconnect one punch section from the movable actuating member when one shaft is moved in one direction and to connect the punch section to the other shaft when the first mentioned shaft is moved in a reverse direction.

19. In a negative data recording machine, a punch having relatively movable sections, a movable actuating member'for operating the punch; a pair of shafts connected to the movable actuating member, a clutch 'on one shaft, a clutch operating means connected to the movable actuating member adapted to disconnect one'punch section from its shaft during movement of the other punch section in one direction and to connect said punch section to turn with its shaft when the ing and releasing driving connection between one shaft and the movably mounted punch section.

21. In a negative data recording machine, a punch having relatively 'movab e sections, .a, movable actuating member for the punch a pair of telescoping shafts connected to the movable actuating member, one punch being afiixed to one shaft and the other punch being movably mounted on the other shaft, gearing connecting the movable actuating member and the two shafts through which they may turn together, and a clutch for making and releasing driving connection between one shaft and the movably mounted punch section, and a, frictionally moved clutch operating mechanism for moving the clutch through said movable actuating member.

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 3rd day of March, 1930.

ROY S. HOPKINS. 

